Matt

I think -- as long as the financials are okay -- that it'll be easier to sell him on the area and the organization now that he would have spent time here. You'd hope that after being an NHL nomad the last couple of years that he'd sign with a perennial contender that has genuine interest in him.

One win in 10 games and still in the Top 5?

This isn't true, either. The Red Wings were still persuing Danny Markov before he had a brain fart and figured he was worth more on the open market. He wasn't, and now he's making a fraction in Russia of what he'd make here. Let's not forget that Brent Sopel also had an offer on the table before he took Chicago's "top 4 minutes" offer in the exhibition season. Bottom line: The Red Wings have been looking for another veteran defenseman all season.

Time to clear up a misconception here: You both are assuming that the Red Wings had no interest in Stuart over the summer. That's patently false -- Holland said himself immediately after the trade that Stuart was a player the club courted (and sent an offer to) in the off-season but Stuart decided he wanted to stay on the west coast. Hence the 1-year deal with the Kings. Stuart was a target for the Red Wings before training camp this year. The two sides just couldn't come to a deal.

Nope. It makes it all that more rewarding.

Nothing wrong with that assessment. I agree with it.

Oh, really? The Wings made a lukewarm offer for Fedorov -- there was dissention in the ranks on whether he was a fit or not -- and the Jackets didn't feel it was up to snuff. Since the dust has settled a bit I'm fine with how things shook out. The prices on some of the forwards (Hossa) were ridiculous and I've got no problem with Holland standing pat in that regard. The onus is now on Filppula, Franzen, Samuelsson, Hudler and Cleary.

I would be shocked if Lebda isn't the one that ultimately sits.

As an aside... I'm glad the team didn't acquire Prospal. Gut feeling has him not being a big contributor in the postseason and I think the Wings could do better. Glad he's in Philly.

Aaron Ward disagrees.

Who is this you speak of? Does he hang out with Zetterburg?

I have an Insider account.... it speculates Colorado or San Jose.

I think Babcock would rather gnaw off his left arm.

Where the hell did this come from? You *do* realize that Forsberg has been having his foot checked out by specialists (and had surgery on it) earlier this season, right? All of his work up to this point was just to RETURN to the NHL. He wasn't sitting by the pool sipping pina colatas like Neidermayer and Selanne. At least get your comparisons straight.

He wore it in training camp briefly.

Just needed to get that off my chest...

I'm sensing a photoshop contest coming on...

Not unless it's a photo of a wall inside a darkened walk-in closet that has nothing but newspaper clippings of Wings' games, photos of players and candles all over the place.... Oh, and the word "HATE" plastered across it all in blood. ... Or ketchup?

I think you're a bit too quick to pass judgment on Hossa considering it's a secondhand report from RDS and not a direct quote from his agent. What RDS says isn't gospel. Besides, who WOULDN'T want $9-10 million per season? What you ask for and what you get are two entirely different things. Besides, I think tha total is a bit excessive to be believable, anyway. I don't think money is the big underlying factor for him at this point. His next contract deal will put him with a franchise for the duration of what will likely be the peak of his NHL career -- and I think he'd want to make that commitment with a franchise that is committed to winning the Stanley Cup year in and year out, salary cap be damned. You'd be hard pressed to find a more fitting franchise than Detroit in this case. It just has to make cap sense.

Is there any solid reasoning behind that other than some emotional attachment to Filppula? I don't think any sane person here thinks that Filppula is a 40+ goal player -- and I LIKE Flip. I think he's going to be a good two-way player... But Marian Hossa.... We're talking about a winger here that is on the same level as Dany Heatley, Jarome Iginla, Alfredsson.... It's a no brainer.

I recall hearing the same thing about a certain Russian player sitting on the Red Wings' roster, too...

Honestly, if the Wings pull of a deal for Hossa (who, mind you, is a couple months younger than Datsyuk) for Filppula (+ whatever) you won't care a wink when Marian is putting up 50+ goal seasons riding shotgun to Datsyuk.

The difference here is that Hossa is likely not a rental and such a move would be considered a "hockey trade".... Opportunities to land a franchise right winger don't come around very often.

You're preaching to the choir regarding Downey's tactics, but I think he's been unleashed since the Lidstrom hit, and rightfully so.